Ashwin claims
top spot

Calcutta: India’s Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday became the No. 1 Test all-rounder in ICC rankings following his fine show with the bat in the fourth Test against England in Manchester.

Ashwin scored 40 and 46 not out at the Old Trafford though India lost the Test by an innings and 54 runs. He though was wicketless in his 14 overs in England’s first innings.

The off-spinner, who now have 372 rating points to his kitty, has displaced South Africa’s Vernon Philander (365).

Bangladesh’s Shakib-al Hasan was at third spot while Englishman Stuart Broad has moved ahead of Australia’s Mitchell Johnson in fourth position.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara has regained the No. 1 Test batsman spot following his 10th double century in Galle against Pakistan while India’s Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli slipped down the ladder.

Sangakkara scored 221 and 21 in the Test, which earned him 31 ratings points that helped him dethrone AB de Villiers from the top pedestal.

The South African had snatched the No. 1 spot from his teammate Hashim Amla in October 2013 and spent a total stretch of 287 days and 33 Tests at the top.

Pujara lost two spots to occupy 12th spot though he remained the highest-ranking Indian while another struggling teammate Kohli slipped five places to be at 20th.

Sangakkara had first surged to the top of the batting charts in December 2007 when he replaced Ricky Ponting, while he last claimed the top spot in November 2012 in Galle before Australia’s Michael Clarke dislodged him following his 230 against South Africa in the Adelaide Test.

Mahela Jayawardena, playing his last Test series, has retained 14th position following his contributions of 59 and 26, but will seek to make his farewell Test a memorable one, which can potentially help him end higher on the rankings table.

In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers, England's win against India at Old Trafford by an innings and 54 runs has seen its bowlers charge up the rankings table.

James Anderson has climbed two places to grab fifth spot following his three for 46 and two for 18, while Man of the Match Stuart Broad has propelled four places to ninth spot following his figures of six for 25 in India’s first innings. Ashwin remained the highest-ranking Indian bowler though he lost one spot to be at 13th.